Bad Busser Habits: What Are Servers’ Assistants Responsible For?

A member of Kara Restaurant Group recently developed a training manual for bussers/server assistants. Among the many do’s and don’t, one rule stood out to Yianni: Should bussers have any interactions with guests, or should they simply serve in a supporting role to the star of the show – the server? Matt and Liz join him to answer questions, including: 

• Should bussers interact with restaurant guests, and if so, to what extent?
• Is it a server’s job to connect with their tables and command control of the experience?
• Do guests get upset if a busser tells them ‘I’ll relay your request to your server?”
• Are there differences in service standards for breakfast vs. dinner?
• What does it mean to be a busser vs. a server’s assistant?